Vehicle for sweeping large surfaces



July 13, 1965 J. E. LYON 3,193,862

VEHICLE FOR SWEEPING LARGE SURFACES Filed Dec. 28, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 24 J o 42 22 INVENTOR JAMES E. LYON BY Q AT TORNEYS July 13, 1965 J. E. LYON VEHICLE FOR SWEEPING LARGE SURFACES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 INVENTOR. JAMES E. LYON fi f&zz\

ATTORNEYS July 13, 1965 J. E, LYON VEHICLE FOR SWEEPING LARGE SURFACES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 INVENTOR JAMES E. LYON BY (Q -aux ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,193,862 VEHECLE FUR SWEEPING LARGE SURFACES James E. Lyon, Perrysburg, Ohio, assiguor to American Lincoln Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Filed Dec. 28, M51, Ser. No. 162,674 6 Claims. ill. -87) This invention relates to an improved power sweeper and more particularly to a power sweeper of the riding type which is especially designed to sweep factory and institutional floors and similar large surfaces.

Sweepers of the general type with which the present invention is concerned are known in the art. Most of these sweepers have a large cylindrical broom which is rotated in contact with a surface to be swept on an axis which is parallel to the surface and perpendicular to the movement of the machine. Frequently, the sweepers have a side broom located to one side and in front of the sweeper to facilitate cleaning areas adjacent walls, curbs, or the like. However, such sweepers have had a number of shortcomings which the sweeper according to the present invention overcomes.

The side broom assembly on most sweepers is mounted in a manner such that it can be tilted about a horizontal axis to enable the broom to yield should it strike a wall or other object. However, when the broom tilts about the horizontal axis, the bristles tend to dig into the surface being swept, causing possible damage or at least excessive wear to the bristles and possible abrading or Scratching of the surface. To overcome this problem, the side broom of the new sweeper is mounted on an arm which is capable of pivoting about a vertical axis spaced from the side broom so that the broom can yield and swing inwardly in a horizontal plane toward the sweeper if an obstruction is contacted. In this manner, the degree and extent of the contact of the bristles with the fioor is virtually unchanged and neither the bristles nor the surface will be damaged by the contact. The driving arrangement for the side broom of the new sweeper is also designed to automatically change the amount of pressure of the broom on the surface when the level of the surface changes. Thus, should a shallow recess or drop in the surface level be encountered, the pressure on the broom will be increased to assure proper sweeping of this portion of the surface. Also, if a bump or rise in the surface be encountered, the pressure on the broom will be decreased to reduce the chance of abrading such surface and still enable adequate sweeping to take place. The side broom of the new machine can also swing au tomatically under the machine and out of the way when it is raised and not in use.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an improved power sweeper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power sweeper which is capable of cleaning surfaces, and particularly uneven surfaces, more effectively than heretofore.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a power sweeper with less complicated controls which are easier to operate.

Yet a further object of the inventionis to provide a power sweeper with a side broom which can yield when contacting an obstruction without damaging the bristles or the surface being swept.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall view in perspective of a riding-type power sweeper embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, detailed view in perspective of a side broom assembly of the sweeper shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation with parts sectioned, of the side broom assembly shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in cross section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, an overall power sweeping machine embodying the principles of the present invention is indicated by the numeral 20. The sweeper 20 includes a main frame or body 22 supported on a pair of driven, rear wheels '24 and a single, centrally located front wheel '26. Thefront wheel 26 is steered through suitable mechanism .asso

' of the frame 22 with suitable foot controls being located just above the deck 36 behind the panel 34 for controlling the drive for the rear wheels 24 and also for stopping the sweeper. These controls can be of any suitable design, as is known in the art, and will not be discussed in any detail, except for a brake of the sweeper 20. To oneside of the operators seat 3% is a control board generally indicated at 38 containing a plurality of levers for controlling various elemnts of the sweeper 20 including the wheel transmission.

A side broom 40 is located under the front, right corner of the sweeper 20, this broom enabling the sweeper to clean closely to a wall or curb, for example, with the broom 4t} sweeping the dirt toward the center of the sweeper 20. The sweeper can also be supplied with a similar side broom at the front, left corner, if desired.

The dirt swept to the center of the sweeper 20 by the broom 49, as well as other dirt passing under the sweeper 20, passes under a front flap 42 and is picked up by a main broom 44. The main broom 44 carries thisdirt into a hopper 46 in which heavier dirt and debris is deposited, with lighter dirt particles being eventually passed through a plurality of filter bags 48 which collect the remaining dirt and allow the air to pass to the atmosphere. The dirt collected in the filter bags 48 can then be separted and removed by a novel shaker system, to be discussed later, and the hopper 46 can be unloaded by a novel dumping system, also to be discussed later.

With the various elements of the overall sweeper 20 having been briefly discussed above, the individual elements, beginning with the side broom 449, will now be described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the broom 40 is of conventional construction, including relatively stiff bristles 59 mounted on a backing plate 52. The broom 40 is positioned so that the bristles 50 contact the area to be swept at a position of approximately 12-3 oclock, taking the front of the broom 40 in the direction of travel of the sweeper 20, as being 12 oclock. With this arrangement,

the broom 4i causes dirt contacted by the bristles 50 to be swept inwardly toward the center of the sweeper and at the same time the broom 40 is urged outwardly away from the sweeper. The broom 40 is fixed to a side broom shaft 54 which is located at a slight angle to the vertical to provide the above-described contact of the bristles Sit. The shaft 54 is rotatably supported in a bearing housing 55 which is affixed to a first, generally horizontally-disposed, side broom arm 56 which is adjustably afiixed to a second, generally horizontally-disposed, side groom arm 53. The latter arm is integral with a yoke indicated at 6t? which includes a web 62 and horizontallydisposed fork plates 64 and es." The plates cooperation of the annular walls 63 and 7d with the projections 72 and 7 -ienable the yoke 6d and the armsfie 64- and cs have annular wallsor ridges '68 and 7t) afiixed thereto: which encircle circular projections 72 and 74 of top and bottom walls 76 and 78 f a gear box or housing Elli. The

and 58 to be supported by the gear housing 8% yet enable} the arms 56 and 58 to pivot in a horizontal plane with re-i spect to the housing 89. The pivoting movement of the arms 56 and 58 is substantially parallel to the. plane of rotation of the brush 41 except for the slight inclination.

which causes the brush to contactthe surface at the'lZ-l pivotal movement in a vertical plane on a horizontallydisposed, driven. shaft 32 by suitable bearings 84.- With this arrangement, the gear housing 80 can pivot around the shaft 82 in a vertical plane and thus move the arms 56 and 58 and the brush 40 toward and away from the surface. a

The broom 40 and the shaft 54 are driven through side broom sheaves .86 attached thereto which, in turn, are

rotated through belts Saland side broom drive sheaves ii The latter is affigted to a vertically-disposed worm shaft 92 (FIG. 4) which is rotatably held within the housing 80 by bearings 94 and as mountedvin the top and bottom walls 76 and '73 and is positionedat the centers of the 1 a circular projections 72 and 7d. Keyed to the shaft 92. is

a worm gear 98 which meshes with a worm 1% affixed to the driven shaft 52. Thei driven shaft 32 is rotatably supported by bearing blocks 1&2 which, .in turn, are sup 7 ported on partof the frame 22, specifically on a wall 184 of the main broom chamber.' The shaft 82 is driven through a drive sheave 106 which is suitably driven from an internal combustion engine 1138 (FIG. 1) which con-V.

stitutes the sole source of power for the entire sweeper 2d.

The engine 108 drives the shaft 82 in a counterclock wise direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG. '2 and the shaft 82 also rotates the brush 4% in a counterclock-v wise direction, as indicated by the arrow, through the a Worm 108, the worm gear 98,, the sheaves 90, the belts 88, and the sheaves 86. When the brush rotates in'this oclock position. The gear housing Ellis supported for clockwise. direction and also urges the arms 56 and 58 and the broom 40' ina similar or upward direction. Hence, the pressure of the bristles'fill on the surface being swept is less during normal rotation of the'broom ll than it 'would be if the broom were not being driven at all. If the broom 4d shouldnow encounter a sudden rise in the surface asithe sweeper moves, along, the bristles 5i will have a tendency to'engage the surface, more fully so A greater 7 that the broom 40 requires: more power. amount of force is thus transmitted from the w-orm 1% to the worm gear 98, thereby increasing the upward force on the gear box 39, the arms Sdand '53,and the broom 4d. Thus, the tendency for the increased engagemerit between the bristles and the surface, due to the rise in the surface, is thus overcome since the broom 40 is urged upwardly to decrease the pressure of the bristles 5% on thesurface. The arm 56 and the. broom 40 thus retain" a higher positioniuntil'the rise in the surface is passed. On the other hand, if the broom 40 should encounter a recess in the surface as the sweeper moves therealong, the engagement of the bristles, 5i and the surface will tend to bev decreased, thus reducing the necessary power. The power transmitted from theworm 109 fto'the'worm wheelfib will then decrease'aud the force urgingthe broom, 4h upwardly will decrease, with the result that the. pressure of the b'roomdtl onthe surface tendsito increase. The armed and-the broom 5-0 thus assume a lower position until the recess is passed. Thus,

' with the particular drive arrangement for the broom 4d,

the broom pressure tends to remain the same when a rise is encountered and'the broom position is raised and when a recess is encountered and the broom position is lowered. Therefore, the particular side broom drive arrangement-minimizes the chance for the broom pressure tobe either excessive or inadequate-so that the wear on the bristles and the surface is decreased and the sweeping effectiveness of the bristles on the surface is increased.

manner, ititends to move thearms 56 andfih in a clock-J wise direction around the pivots formed by the fork plates 64 and 66, with the broom moving outwardly from the sweeper 2E). The, extent of this movement, however;

is limited by means of a first chain or stop means 11% which is" suitably affixed to an outer portion of the'arrn 56 and is also affixed to 'the under side of the deck 36 constituting part of the frame 22 at a point inwardly.

from the arm 56. Also, since the broom 4%) is free to move downwardly in a vertical plane it it is not supported.

by the surface being swept, a second chain or stop means 112 is also afiixed to the outer portionof the arm 56 and is also affixed to the deck 36 above the armdo. jThe chain 112-thus limits downward movement of the broom 40 but. does not support the broom tl atall during its normal operation. a

If the broom 40 strikes a curb or wall, the object simply pushes the broom 4d inwardly under the deck'36 to'preyent any damage to the object or the broom. During this movement, the bristles 50 still contact the surface with equalforce and at the same 123 oclock position to preventdamage to either, the surface or'the bristles When the side broom of a conventional sweeper is engaged by an immovable object,the broom is. pivoted about a horizontal axis so; that its plane of rotation changes, withthe result that the bristles atthe outer edge of the broom tend to dig into the surface being swept, thereby frequently resulting in damage to both the bristles and the's'urface.

The particular supporting arrangement for the broom 40 has a further advantage.

direction, the'manner of engagement ofthe worm 109 and the-worm gear 98 urges the gear housing 89 in a counteranimmovable object such as When the driven shaft 82' and the Worm 1% are driven in the counterclockwise.

control handle panel 118 of the control board 38,50

The broom i0 is swung upwardly out of the way when notin use by means of a side'broom handle 114 which is afiixed to a side of thegear-housing 80. The handle 114 extends upwardly through" an opening 116 in. a

that it can bemoved back and forth, parallel to the direction of niovement'of-the sweeper 20, by the operator.

,The broom 40 can be held inan upper position when the handle 114 is moved to the rear of the opening 116 'andisswung into'a notch 120which h-olds'the handle in the rear position. When the handle is in its normal or operating position, as shown in FIG: 3, thepressure of v the bristles 5d of the broom 44). on the, surface being swept can. be regulated by means of a side broom'pressure spring122 which is aflixed to ,an upper portion of the handle 114 and also is attachedto an upper end of an adjusting armf124.. The, -arm'124 is functionally integral witha second arm 126 and pivoted at an intermediate point to 'a pivot pin 128. H The outer end of the second arm 126 is pivotallyattached to an adjusting screw 139 which extendsjupwardly through the panel 116 and'is" pivotally engaged with an adjusting knob 132 When the knob132 is screwed downwardly on the adjusting rod 130,Ithe arms 126 and 124 are moved ,in a counterclockwise direction, thereby increasing the I that the broom 40 be swung out of the way underthe deck 36. To accomplish this, the gear box is providcd with a vertical supporting plate 134, to the upper end of which is pivotally attached a side broom lever 136. The lower end of the lever 136 is connected to a lever spring 138 which is also attached to an car 140 suitably located on the inner side of the gear box 80. The upper end of the lever 136 is horizontally aligned with a stop bar 142 which is affixed to the wall 104 at a height between the shaft 82 and the control board 38. When the handle 114 is moved toward its rear position, the upper end of the lever 136 abuts the stop bar 142 to cause the lever 136 to move in a clockwise direction. This causes the lower end .of the lever 136 to move toward the left and put the spring 138 in tension, which places a rearward pull on the ear 140 and swings inwardly the yoke and the arms 56 and 58, along with the broom 40. Thus, the simple rearward movement of the handle 114 both raises the broom 4i) and retracts it under the deck 36 of the sweeper 29. When the broom 40 is driven and again lowered, the contact of the bristles 50 with the surface causes the broom to swing again to its outer, sweeping position.

Various modifications of the above-described embodiment of the invention will'be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, if within the spirit and tenor of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. A power sweeper for sweeping a large surface comprising, in combination, a main frame, a pair of rear Wheels rotatably mounted on said frame, a steerable front wheel supporting a front portion of said frame, an operators seat on said frame, a side broom including bristles and a backing plate, a generally vertical, side broom shaft, means on said side broom for connecting it to said shaft, said shaft being inclined slightly-to the vertical so that the bristles of said side broom contact the surface principally at a position of 12-3 oclock, taking the forward direction of movement of said sweeper as 12 oclock, a bearing housing above said side broom and rotatably holding said side broom shaft, a first, generally horizontally-disposed, side broom arm attached to said bearing housing, a second, generally horizontally-disposed, side broom arm contiguous with said first side broom arm, means adjustably connecting said side broom arms, a yoke attached to said second side broom arm, said yoke having a pair of horizontally-disposed fork plates, one located above the other, each of said plates having annular wall means facing the other, a gear housing having a top wall and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having circular projections cooperating with said annular wall means of said fork plates to enable said fork plates, said arms, and said side broom to pivot in a horizontal plane around said gear housing, a vertically-disposed worm shaft rotatably mounted in said gear housing, a worm gear in said gear housing afiixed to said vertical worm shaft, a generally horizontally-disposed, driven shaft rotatably supported by said main frame, and extending through and rotatably supporting said gear housing, a worm aflixed to said driven shaft within said gear housing and meshing with said worm gear, means for driving said horizontal, driven shaft in a direction urging said side broom upwardly, a first sheave attached to said vertical worm shaft, a second sheave attached to said side broom shaft, belt means connecting said sheaves to drive said side broom in a direction urging said broom away from said sweeper when in contact with the surface, a first chain attached to said first arm and to said frame to limit outward movement of said side broom away from said frame, a second chain attached to said first arm and to said frame to limit downward movement of said side broom, a side broom handle attached to said gear housing and extending upwardly near said operators seat, a side broom spring connected to said frame and to an upper portion of said handle, said side broom spring urging said handle rearwardly, means to adjust tension on said side broom spring, a supporting plate attached to said gear housing and extending upwardly therefrom on the side of said circular projections of said gear housing and said annular wall means of said fork plates toward the center of said sweeper, a side broom lever having an upper end and a lower end, an intermediate point of which is pivotally attached to said supporting plate, a stop bar held by said frame and aligned with the upper end of said lever, and a lever spring attached to the lower end of .said lever and to said gear housing on the same side thereof as said supporting plate, said stop bar urging the upper endof said lever'forwardly to place said lever spring in tension to urge said arms and said broom inwardly under said sweeper when said side broom handle is pulled rearwardly.

2. A power sweeper for sweeping a large surface comprising, in combination, a main frame, a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted onsaid frame, a steerable front wheel supporting a front portion of said frame, an operators seat on said frame, a side broom including bristles and a backing plate, a generally vertical, side broom shaft, means on said side broom for connecting it to said shaft, bearing means for rotatably supporting said side broom sha-ft about a generally vertical axis, arm means connected to said side broom shaft-supporting means, a yoke attached to said arm means, a gear housing rotatably connected to said yoke for movement of said yoke about a vertical axis whereby said arm means, said bearing means, and said side broom can pivot in a generally horizontal plane around said gear housing, a vertically-disposed worm shaft rotatably mounted in said gear housing, a worm gear in said gear housing affixed to said vertical worm shaft, a generallyhorizontallydisposed, driven shaft rotatably supported by said frame, and extending through and rotatably supporting said gear housing for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a worm atfixed to said driven shaft within said gear hous- 'mg and meshing with said worm gear, means for driving said driven shaft in a direction urging said worm gear, said worm shaft, said gear housing, said arm means, said yoke, and said side broom upwardly around said driven shaft, sheave and belt means connecting saidvertical worm shaft and said side broom shaft whereby said side broom is driven in a direction urging said broom away from said sweeper when in contact with the surface, and means associated with said frame to limit outward movement of said side broom.

3. A power sweeper for sweeping a large surface comprising, in combination, a main frame, wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame, a side broom, a generally vertical, side broom shaft, means on said side broom for connecting it to said shaft, bearing means for rotatably supporting said side broom shaft about a generally vertical axis, a gear housing, means pivotally connecting said bearing means to said gear housing for pivotal movement of said connecting means around a vertical axis, whereby said pivot means, said bearing means, and said side broom can pivot in a generally horizontal plane around said gear housing, a gear shaft rotatably mounted in said gear housing, a first gear in said gear housing affixed to said gear shaft, a generally horizontally disposed, driven shaft rotatably supported by said frame, and extending through and rotatably supporting said gear housing for movement about a horizontal axis, a second gear affixed to said driven shaft within said gear housing and meshing with said first gear, means for driving said driven shaft in a direction urging said first gear, said gear shaft, said gear housing, said pivotal connecting means, and said side broom upwardly around said driven shaft, means connecting said gear shaft and said side broom shaft whereby said side broom is driven in a direction urging said broom away from said sweeper when in contact with the surface, a side broom handle attached to said gear housing to raise said broom, spring means conprising, incombination, a main frame, wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame, a side broom, a generally vertical, side broom shaft, means on said side broom for, connecting it to said shaft, bearing 'rneanfsfor rotatably supporting said side 'broomgshaft about a; generally vertical axis, a gear housing,,me'ans pivotally connecting 7 said bearing means to said gear housing for pivotal movement-of said connecting'means about averticabaxis,

whereby said pivot means, saidbearin'g means, and said 7 side broom can pivot in a generally horizontalrplane around said gear housing, a gear shaft rotatably mounted insaid gear housing, a first gear in said gear housing afs fixed to said gear shaft, avdriven shaft rot'atably supported by said frame and extending through said gear housing,

means adjustably connecting atsssea v g V zontal plane around said housing, a side broom handle attached to saidhousing' to raise said-side broom, a spring having one end attached to said housing toward thecenter of said sweeper from the pivotal connection of the pivot connecting means, a lever pivotally sup- 1 .ported by said gear housing with one end connected to the other end of said spring, and means for engaging and pivoting said lever to place said spring under tension only when said broom is raised, to move said broom inwardly under said sweeper. 4

I xApower sweeper according to claim 3 characterized I by'a second spring attached to said housing toward the said driven 'shaf t being horizontally disposed and located '20 transversely to the forward directionof movement ofsaid sweeper, 'a second gearaffixed to said driven shaft within said gear housing and meshing with said first gear,smeans for driving saidndriven shaftin a direction urging said side broom upwardly, and means connecting said gear shaft andsaid side broom shaft whereby said side broom is drivenzvlhen said gear shaft is rotated, 7

5. A power sweeper for sweeping a large surface com prising, in combination, a main frame, Wheel means'rotats ably mounted on said frame, a side broom, aigenerally vertical, sidejbroom shaft, means on said side broom for connecting it to said shaft, bearingmeans for rotat-v ably supporting said side broom shaft, apivotable'housing, means mounted on said frame for pivotally support 7 ing said housing in a vertical plane, arm means connect-,

ing said housing and said bearingmeans whereby. said side broom can be pivoted in a vertical plane with'saidhousing Sa d connecting means being pivotally mounted on said housing to enable said; connectingtmeans, said bearing means, and said side broom to pivot in a horicenter ofsaid sweeper from said pivot means, and means for placing said 'second'spring under tension when said 5 broom is raised to move said broom inwardly under said sweeper. V a

References Citedhy the Examiner V 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 444,683 1/91 Auberlins l 15-352 501,353 7/93 Myers 1582 612,632 10/98 Pitmai'l et a1; 1.. -83 1,687,728 10/28 Liddell t 15-87 ,313,412 3/43 Wells 15 s2 2,621,750 12/52 Wahlbergf '18O-77 2,626,418 1/53 Kelly et' al. 15-352 '7 2,678,462, 5 54 'Lison et al. f 15 -340 1 2,739,340 3 /56 f Blydenburgh et al. 15-340 '3 2,829,391 j 4/58 Swanson 'et al; 15-83 2,853,144 7 9/58' Mench 77 2,859,461 11/58 Machovec 15340 X 8/61 Aime rs et al. 15-87 i FOREIGN PATENTS 6/42 Great Britain. 7

808,026 "1/59 Great Britain.

49 CHARLES 'A. WILLMUTH,=Examiner. 

5. A POWER SWEEPER FOR SWEEPING ALARGE SURFACE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A MAIN FRAME, WHEEL MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A SIDE BROOM, A GENERALLY VERTICAL, SIDE BROOM SHAFT, MEANS ON SAID SIDE BROOM FOR CONNECTING IT TO SAID SHAFT, BEARING MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID SIDE BROOM SHAFT, A PIVOTABLE HOUSING, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID HOUSING IN A VERTICAL PLANE, ARM MEANS CONNECTING SAID HOUSING AND SAID BEARING MEANS WHEREBY SAID SIDE BROOM CAN BE PIVOTED IN A VERTICAL PLANE WITH SAID HOUSING, SAID CONNECTING MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING TO ENABLE SAID CONNECTING MEANS, SAID BEARING MEANS, AND SAID SIDE BROOM TO PIVOT IN A HORI- 